Round 17: Sydney Roosters Vs St George Illawarra Dragons game and discussion thread

[Guest]

We will win...
If all our players are in 100% form then on paper we're by far the superior team! Don't know many teams who rival us on paper TBH...

What paper are you writing this team on?

Our backline is pathetic, in OR out of form. Our forward pack whilst solid, has many players past their peak. We have alot of inexperience in our side, but make no mistake this team even when they're all 100% in form probably wouldn't be a top 4 side due to the speed of the game, our forward pack is nowhere near mobile enough and we lack some serious pace in the 3/4 line, and our halves are way too one-dimensional.

[Guest]

JB hit the nail on the head. Mason and O'Meley once looked good on paper, but now don't really. I feel that we won't actually look 'good' on paper for a while, but we will have a lot of young talent coming through. Guys like Pearce, Sa, Symonds, Cherrington, Nuuausala, Friend (depending on the assault charge) aren't really rated by other teams in the NRL as amazing players yet, but in a few years will all be seen as amazing young talent. Paea, SKD and Perrett are all great players, that are really underrated, mainly because the few mistakes that they make tend to be pretty significant...but they are all top players when in form. I have some doubts over the Aubusson's, however...

[Guest]

JB hit the nail on the head. Mason and O'Meley once looked good on paper, but now don't really. I feel that we won't actually look 'good' on paper for a while, but we will have a lot of young talent coming through. Guys like Pearce, Sa, Symonds, Cherrington, Nuuausala, Friend (depending on the assault charge) aren't really rated by other teams in the NRL as amazing players yet, but in a few years will all be seen as amazing young talent. Paea, SKD and Perrett are all great players, that are really underrated, mainly because the few mistakes that they make tend to be pretty significant...but they are all top players when in form. I have some doubts over the Aubusson's, however...

Spot on. We have some talent to work with over the coming years, but we are a long way from being the quality side everyone thinks we are. We've recruited poorly in some very key areas.

I guess when you're down this low on the ladder, and hoping things will change, some delusions of grandeur start to kick in.

I thought we'd be a fringe top 8 side this year, I didn't think we'd fall down as low as we are, but IMO we over-achieved last year. You can put it down to the excitement of a new coach and a few new faces getting us off to a great start, but the signs were already showing that we couldn't keep it by the midway point of the season. Set plays were no longer working, forwards weren't as effective etc. The way two ref's have affected the game have really hurt our style of play, our pack simply struggles to keep up. We may have 9 or so rep players in our side, but none of them are rep quality now.

[TheLoneRooster]

Do it for the Bulldogs!!!

C'mon do us this one favour, and can you do it on a dodgy video ref's decision too?

LOL, that would be sensational if that were the outcome.
I want to see the look on "coach smiley's" face at the end of a defeat at the hands of the Roosters.
Mind you, I won't be holding my breath.

[Vasco]

I have some doubts over the Aubusson's, however...

I actually think Mitch is a very handy first grader. James is the dud.

[Guest]

I actually think Mitch is a very handy first grader. James is the dud.

Bingo.




Looking at the saints this week they do look vulnerable with a few key players out. That said, we probably will not be good enough to get them. But looking towards the finals I still think the better sides can exploit saints down their right side.

[Guest]

i just saw a short video of sowards interview about this weeks game...he sounds complacent...so on that i think theres slim chance...

if the boys can smash boyd and soward a coulpe times...things might work out.

i hope they get into a fight in the first minute!!! that should be freddys game plan!

[Guest]

i just saw a short video of sowards interview about this weeks game...he sounds complacent...so on that i think theres slim chance...

if the boys can smash boyd and soward a coulpe times...things might work out.

i hope they get into a fight in the first minute!!! that should be freddys game plan!

Agreed it would be entertaning but it wont win us the game. Saints wont be complacent they havent been all year, that is their strength. They have been competitive is every game I've seen them play this year. That being said as much as I hate the dogs and storm I still think they are the best sides in the comp.

[Guest]

Bingo.




Looking at the saints this week they do look vulnerable with a few key players out. That said, we probably will not be good enough to get them. But looking towards the finals I still think the better sides can exploit saints down their right side.

All season I've been saying "pah, they're just lucky!"

But they seem to be a legit #1 side at the moment (have consolidated it week it, week out.) I think their team's a combination of good luck and good signings... don't think many pictured them as taking off when Gasnier took off. Sailor's been going well too!! That surprised me; I thought he'd be a dud signing (old star who played union for a bit... sucked at it then got busted doing cocaine... came back as a dragons star... VERY lucky signing I think... I reckon they got a bargain too.)

Funny... Dragons lost Gasnier and now they're gun. Dogs lost Sonny Bill, Mason, Anasta...etc and now they're gun. I guess you need to lose some to gain some?

---

Still... I'm a Roosters fan, I will never back down on saying our team's GOING to win, I'm sure of it, otherwise I wouldn't bother watching them. Our boys are the best; no matter what they do I'll love them and respect them!

[Guest]

Problem is I don't see much spots available for Mitch Aubusson in the team.

with Carney coming, expect to see a pack of either:

- the power pack

Nuuausala
Friend
Warea-Hargreaves/Kennedy
Sa
Myles
Anasta

J Aubusson
Symonds
Cherrington
Paea

or a more mobile pack of:

Nuuausala
Friend
Myles
Sa
M Aubusson or Cordner?
Anasta

J Aubusson
Symonds
Cherrington
Paea

I expect Nuuausala and Cherrington to take over for O'Meley and Mason respectively, Sa to get a full season under his belt of just playing second row to fill the role of an Anthony Tupou/Bronson Harrison, and either shift Myles to the backrow for Fitzgibbon with Warea-Hargreaves or Kennedy coming in, OR straight swap Fitzgibbon for either Morbs as a roving backrower, or young Boyd Cordner.

[novice chook]

Unless we buy some quality centres Mack, Morbs will be needed in the side to play where he is now.

It's hit and miss whether any of our NYC younguns will be up to regular first grade next year.

Don't underestimate the value of Morbs to the team - I don't think its coincidence we've improved since he's returned to the top 17, whereever he plays.


NC

[Guest]

True, I just think that he isn't good enough to be a matchwinning centre, and won't find a spot in our pack. But for now, in the centres is completely fine, I predict our Round 1 team next year will look like:

1. Anthony Minichiello
2. Sam Perrett
3. Mitchell Aubusson
4. Ben Jones
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
6. Todd Carney
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. FP Nuuausala
9. Jake Friend (depending on the charges)
10. Nate Myles
11. Setaimata Sa
12. Boyd Cordner/Jared Warea-Hargreaves
13. Braith Anasta

14. James Aubusson
15. Tom Symonds
16. Anthony Cherrington
17. Lopini Paea

With Fitzy retiring, it leaves us with the nice choice of bringing one of two huge young guns, in JWH or Cordner. With other blokes like Isaac Maliota, Martin Kennedy, Rohan Ahern, Nick Kouparitsas and the other Cordner brother in tow, we have plenty of big bopper, but Williamson and Waqa are the only other backs we have. Centres is a serious issue...very little genuine strike power when Jones and Aubusson are our best options at the moment...

[Guest]

Bingo.




Looking at the saints this week they do look vulnerable with a few key players out. That said, we probably will not be good enough to get them. But looking towards the finals I still think the better sides can exploit saints down their right side.

Their right side is their strongest side defensively. Many have tried and failed this year.

Having Sailor, Scott, Prior and Jeremy Smith when fit generally on that side is a pretty hard line to crack, with or without Soward.

With Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott out, we've got them at a good time, with Weyman gone as well obviously. Come finals time though, if they're close to fielding all of those players they'll be a damn hard side to beat.

[novice chook]

To be honest Mack, to start the season I'd have Morbs in our starting 17 over both JWH and Cordner.

With Fitzy leaving we need a solid defensive bloke to do clean up work. Morbs would fit the bill nicely as a second rower.

The younger blokes will have plenty of opportunities throughout the season what with injuries and suspensions. But I'd start them off on the bench at some stage and build them up to longer minutes over time.


NC

[Guest]

To be honest Mack, to start the season I'd have Morbs in our starting 17 over both JWH and Cordner.

With Fitzy leaving we need a solid defensive bloke to do clean up work. Morbs would fit the bill nicely as a second rower.

The younger blokes will have plenty of opportunities throughout the season what with injuries and suspensions. But I'd start them off on the bench at some stage and build them up to longer minutes over time.


NC

I think Morbs is one of, if not, the best lock we have in our side. His best game for the roosters was against Parra when he played lock IMO

I know that Anasta will move to lock if Carney comes on board. I just don't see Anasta having the defensive workrate of a Morbs at lock.